Mysterious volcanoes (Nicaragua)

Earth is moving, Earth is living. Volcanoes are part of it. During the last 10,000 years, about 1,500 terrestrial volcanoes were active all over the planet. There are much more submarine volcanoes. Actually, we cannot know exactly how many volcanoes have been active since the birth of Earth … that’s a part of the volcanoes’ mystery…

When it erupts, a volcano can emit lava, gas o ashes. Some volcanoes are considered extinct, others sleep and others are active or can reactive.

Volcanoes have been subject of myths and legends: they could have been considered as divine forces, places of human offering, punishment or religious miracles.

Humans have always lived with volcanoes. They are feared for theirs eruptions but volcanoes can also offer positive aspects. Indeed, they give fertile lands, geothermic energy that can be used to produce electricity or hitting, construction materials like basalt, iron or platinum. A volcano can also be a touristic attraction thanks to its panorama, trekking or hydrotherapy possibilities.

On another hand, volcanoes make victims. Since year 1600, about 300,000 people would have died because of volcanoes eruptions: pyroclastic clouds, epidemics, landslides, gas or lava flows are the direct reasons. Today, about 500 million of people live with the threat of a volcanic eruption next to their houses.

We can say volcanoes are a paradox as they attract people thanks to their benefits but also afraid or kill them. But, mainly, volcanoes are part of nature and eruptions are a natural hazard. Volcanoes have been on Earth before human beings so men and women have to adapt and respect natural process of volcanoes.

A volcanic eruption is an incredible and unique show of lights and fire that demonstrate the strength and power of nature.

Another mystery of volcanoes is to forecast their eruptions. It is still very hard to forecast them mainly because human lifetime and time between two eruptions are completely disproportioned and so we have a very few data.

Nicaragua is country of lakes and volcanoes. It is on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur. There are 26 volcanoes in Nicaragua. Some are extinct, others not. All of them have their own mysteries… Let’s talk about one of them, the Masaya.

In pre-Columbian times, Indians Chorotegas offered human sacrifices to calm the anger of the gods. For Spanish religious, Masaya was considered «the mouth of hell.» That’s why they built a large cross close to one of its craters.

Fumaroles emanate continually as well as a strong sulfur odor from Masaya. Thus, it is impossible to see what’s happened underneath, in the crater. But, in total silence, we can hear magma swarming… and we can imagine the mystery of Masaya volcano…

Next to the volcano we can find a lava tube. You need to walk a bit crossing trees, plants and then you find like a big dark hole. It can be frightened to enter into this mysterious hole but that’s a special experience. After few meters inside, you are dropped into a total darkness. The only noise you can hear is one of the bats flying away. You are now in the middle of the mystery. In this moment, you can think about how volcanoes could build this tube, what happens outside… you are in another world.

It is possible to understand one of the mysteries of volcanoes, thanks to risk reduction: we cannot prevent an eruption from taking place. Nature always decides. It seems a good point. But we can try to reduce risks for population. First of all, people have to know if a volcano can erupt close to their houses. Besides, they should know what the risks are and what to do in case of eruption. Knowing about a risk is the best way to cope with it. In case of a big eruption and following the specialists´ instructions, people will have to evacuate. It can be difficult to leave his house without knowing if we will see it again. But nature decides. In case there are ashes, people will have to breathe through a wet linen. At least, people will hear radio or to keep informed.

It is more complicated to protect houses and fields: if lava or ash wants to go there, it will.

Nowadays, many people still don’t know they live in a risked area. Governments and humanitarian organizations should work in this field, nature can’t kill people.

Volcanoes will continue to erupt, their mysteries will continue to exist, humans will continue to learn to live with.

By Emmanuelle Legay

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